一項(xiàng)研究估計(jì)，在英國(guó)家庭中，共堆積了多達(dá)四千萬(wàn)件不再被使用的舊電子產(chǎn)品。而且每一件產(chǎn)品中都含有多種珍貴且日益 “瀕?！?的元素。

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s survey of more than 2,000 people revealed that almost half have between two and five old gadgets in their homes and most people have no plans to recycle them.

英國(guó)皇家化學(xué)學(xué)會(huì)（Royal Society of Chemistry）對(duì)兩千多人進(jìn)行的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查顯示，近一半的人家中有兩到五件舊電子設(shè)備，而且絕大多數(shù)人不打算對(duì)這些設(shè)備進(jìn)行回收再利用。

This means an estimated 40 million old devices, most containing elements the Earth is simply running out of, could be languishing in cupboards and drawers.

這意味著，大約有四千萬(wàn)件舊設(shè)備，其中大多數(shù)設(shè)備都含有地球即將耗盡的元素，可能會(huì)在柜子和抽屜里報(bào)廢。

The mines for elements such as indium, for example, which is used to make touch screens, will be exhausted within a century.

例如，用于制造觸摸屏幕的銦等元素的礦藏將在一個(gè)世紀(jì)內(nèi)枯竭。

Meanwhile, demand for more advanced personal devices continues to increase. So scientists say recycling our old tech is the only sustainable solution.

與此同時(shí)，對(duì)更先進(jìn)的個(gè)人設(shè)備的需求日益增長(zhǎng)。因此，科學(xué)家們說(shuō)，回收我們的舊電子設(shè)備是唯一可持續(xù)的解決方案。

詞匯

gadgets 電子產(chǎn)品，電子設(shè)備
estimated 估算的
devices 設(shè)備
elements 元素
languishing 報(bào)廢
mines 礦
indium （元素）銦
touch screens 觸屏
exhausted 枯竭的，耗盡的
advanced 先進(jìn)的
tech 科技產(chǎn)品
sustainable 可持續(xù)的

閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題。

1. True or false? Most people surveyed are planning to recycle their old gadgets.

2. According to the text, when will the mines for elements such as indium be exhausted?

3. According to scientists, what is the sustainable solution to the shortage of elements used in gadgets and the increase in demand for advanced personal devices?

4. Which word in the text is used to mean ‘the need for a certain product or commodity to be supplied’?

答案

1. True or false? Most people surveyed are planning to recycle their old gadgets.
False. Most people who took part in the survey have no plans to recycle their old gadgets.

2. According to the text, when will the mines for elements such as indium be exhausted?
According to the text, the mines for elements such as indium, which is used to make touch screens, will be exhausted within a century.

3. According to scientists, what is the sustainable solution to the shortage of elements used in gadgets and the increase in demand for advanced personal devices?
According to scientists, recycling our old tech is the only sustainable solution.

4. Which word in the text is used to mean ‘the need for a certain product or commodity to be supplied’?
Demand.